So I purchased one of these K-Edge out-front mounts last year. It’s the adjustable kind. Two pieces. One piece holds the Garmin and the other clamps to your handlebars. On the bottom is a little screw. When you loosen the screw, the Garmin-holding piece adjusts forward or backward to accommodate either a 500 or 800 sized device. Pretty nifty. I had it adjusted for an Edge 500.
Used it for a month or so and worked great. I love K Edge products (I have their Go Pro mount as well).
Then I upgraded to an Edge 800. When I tried to do the adjustment so the mount would fit the larger device, the screw was stuck. Ended up stripping the allen key hole. I’ve tried everything it seems like to get it removed. The screw has a round head so it cannot be gripped with pliers. I tried pliers of all sizes, soaking it in WD-40 type solutions, etc. No use.
Here is the mount where you can see the screw on the bottom.
Any suggestions for fixing this? Expensive mount and I don’t want to trash it. I’ve been using a friend’s Garmin out front mount but need to give that back.
Yes, I did contact K Edge with the problem. Send them the original receipt from TriSports.com. They were no help at all except to tell me that what I had was a discontinued model (likely because of the problem I had, I would assume) and that the new model was similar but no longer adjustable. It just fits the larger Edge 800 so thus is compatible with all Garmins without adjustment. I figured they’d just replace it or offer a solution, instead they offered to sell me one of the new model mounts for I believe it was $40. How annoying.
Places like home depot make a little tool for use in a drill that you use one side to drill out hole a little bit then turn around the tool and it screws itself into that hole . When it gets tight the screw then screws out. I think mine is called gator something. But just ask somebody for a little drill bit to get out stripped screws.
Places like home depot make a little tool for use in a drill that you use one side to drill out hole a little bit then turn around the tool and it screws itself into that hole . When it gets tight the screw then screws out. I think mine is called gator something. But just ask somebody for a little drill bit to get out stripped screws.
It’s called a bolt extractor and you should take the part there to get the right sized one. You will need the appropriate drill size to get the pilot hole started.
Once you get the screw out, you may have damaged threads because they are seized or it might have been cross threaded to begin with (it does that when you have different materials for the screws and the part with the thread). You may want to use a tap and die kit to repair/clean up the threads or just make a bigger sized one for a larger screw if it is completely messed up. After that then, make sure you clean it up the new or existing bolt/screw and put anti-size on there to ensure they don’t get stuck again.
If you don’t already own the tools, it might be cheaper to just buy a new mount. Then make sure you put some anti-seize on the threads before installing. It is the same concept is putting grease on threads when you put back together a bike crank or install pedals. Anti-seize works very well in most cases (it is a good idea on bolts/nuts for car wheels especially in states that see road salt for winter to help keep them from seizing).
I have two of these mounts and ended up actually using loctite (blue) on the bolt in question - without it the adjustment screw would rattle loose over a few dozen miles.
Thanks for the imput everyone. I’ll probably run it over to Home Depot and get an extractor. I wouldn’t mind buying a new one if I got some use out of the one I paid $50 for, but these things should last longer than that.
Thanks for the imput everyone. I’ll probably run it over to Home Depot and get an extractor. I wouldn’t mind buying a new one if I got some use out of the one I paid $50 for, but these things should last longer than that.
That mount is potentially in an area that will see a lot of sweat and sports drink, which can lead to corrosion. If the threads weren’t greased, it may make a difference next time.
A stripped bolt on a piece like this is more of an “oops” moment and not a product failure.
If you can’t get the easy-out / bolt extractor to work, just get a drill bit that would fit inside the hole in the aluminum arm. Drill the head completely off, but do not drill into the threaded mount piece. The arm should fall off once the head is gone, leaving the remaining portion of bolt like a “post” in the threaded mount. Clamp on some vise grips and you’ll have it out in no time.